Egypt’s Beautiful Game Reading Answers

Feb 24, 2023

Egypt’s Beautiful Game Reading Answers is an IELTS academic reading topic that requires candidates to solve a given set of questions within 20 minutes. Egypt’s Beautiful Game Reading Answers has been referenced from the IELTS Book 2019 IELTS Reading Actual Test 13 and contains a total of 13 questions. The question types in this IELTS reading topic; Egypt’s Beautiful Game Reading Answers that candidates are required to solve are; choose the correct letter, and true/false/not given. To practice more such reading passage candidates can refer to the IELTS reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Egypt’s Beautiful Game Reading Answers

It is estimated that over a billion people watched the 2014 World Cup – the biggest TV event in human history – and that football is a trillion-dollar industry.

The fact that a handful of countries dominate the World Cup does not lessen interest in the competition or the sport by people in the remotest of regions. Take the largely inaccessible Omo Valley of southern Ethiopia, where shepherds with few possessions sport Arsenal or AC Milan T-shirts, and where women who may not know of the existence of the UK wear pendants with Wayne Rooney’s face on them. In Qiqihar, in northern China, middle-school children choose ‘English’ names for themselves, like David Beckham or Ronaldo, while in the Sinai, where temperatures soar and there are no other signs of life outdoors, adolescent boys dribble, kick, header, and feint with homemade footballs, dreaming of lifting themselves from abject poverty by playing for a famous team.

Although football generally stimulates the economy, many places grind to a halt when a big match is on – indeed the inhabitants of Cairo quip that the best time to drive across town to shop is during a final between Al Ahly and Zamalek.

As a codified game, football is a modem phenomenon, but the fifth-century-BC Greek historian, Herodotus, noted that young Egyptian males played with a ball made from straw-filled goatskin. The 1882 occupation of Egypt by the British saw the introduction of the game prescribed by the English Football Association in 1863, and almost immediately, football became the national sport and gripped the Egyptian psyche.

Psychologists propose that football appeals to fans for two main reasons: firstly, however vicariously, they participate in a triumphal world greater than their own, especially important when their lives seem mundane or troublesome; secondly, by attaching themselves to one club, they experience a powerful sense of belonging.

In the past 50 years, Egypt’s population has risen exponentially while its quality of life – but for a fortunate few – has deteriorated markedly. Injustice, corruption, and tyranny have borne down upon the average Egyptian, who, for 90 minutes once or twice a week, forgets his woes in a football match. Fans also believe that on the field, there are still some rules, though that is not to say there is no corruption or lawlessness within football: referees are not always fair, and fans, themselves, behave fanatically and dangerously.

In Egypt’s case, a fan’s loyalty to a club is interwoven with class and political allegiances. Al Ahly, for example, founded in 1907, boasted a famous anti-British revolutionary as one of its honorary presidents, and in 1956, the beloved Gamal Abdel Nasser was honorary club president as well as President of the Republic of Egypt. In some ways, Al Ahly remains the people’s club, whereas Zamalek, by contrast, established in 1911, allowed foreigners to play for it, and was associated with affluent Egyptians allied to Kings Fuad and Farouk. In fact, the club was named Farouk in the 1950s.

In more recent times, Hosni Mubarak, president until 2011, was accused of using football as a way to divert the masses from the parlous state of the nation or coerce them into outbursts against teams from other African nations, like Algeria. He, himself, seldom missed a game played by the national team, and his appearance brought on a media frenzy along with patriotic songs and the chanting of slogans. Two of his sons – fabulously wealthy playboys – were frequently photographed socializing with football stars. On the financial side, club owners and managers contributed funds to Mubarak’s campaigns. It is rumoured that, even in disgrace, he is supported by football stars and billionaires.

Egypt has been in turmoil for the last decade. During the 2011 revolution, when Mubarak was deposed, a group of Ahly fans known as the Ultras took an active role in demonstrations in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. In February 2012, during a football match in Port Said, the Ultras were attacked: 74 people died in the brawl. The Ultras claim they were assaulted by both fans from the opposing team and members of the security forces as punishment for their role in Tahrir Square. Other examples of apparently unprovoked violence may signal that even football no longer serves as a fantasy for the frustrated masses. In any case, it is as thorny a game oﬀ the field as it is on.

It seems the beautiful game in Egypt may need a radical facelift. Egypt’s poor showing in the 2014 World Cup – it failed to qualify whereas its rival Algeria did – meant that more Egyptians have started following European teams. Match violence and unprecedented social upheaval had already reduced support. Still, as every fan knows, when life is sweeter in Egypt again, there will be magical moments to savour at local stadiums too.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 14-19

Reading Passage 2 has seven sections, A-G.

Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-G, in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet.

a comparison of football clubs

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Al Ahly, for example, founded in 1907, boasted a famous anti-British revolutionary as one of its honorary presidents, and in 1956, the beloved Gamal Abdel Nasser was honorary club president as well as President of the Republic of Egypt.
Keywords: Al Ahly, 1907, anti-British revolutionary, Republic of Egypt
Keyword Location: Paragraph D, lines 1-4
Explanation: Founded in 1907, Al Ahly has a storied history that includes having an anti-British revolutionary as one of its honorary presidents. Additionally, in 1956, the esteemed Gamal Abdel Nasser served as both the honorary club president. Further, the President of the Republic of Egypt, endearing himself even further to the club's loyal supporters.

a hope for the future

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: Match violence and unprecedented social upheaval had already reduced support. Still, as every fan knows, when life is sweeter in Egypt again, there will be magical moments to savour at local stadiums too.
Keywords: violence, unprecedented, upheaval, Egypt, savour
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, lines 3-5
Explanation: The combination of match violence and societal unrest had already led to a decline in support for local stadiums. However, as any avid fan can attest, once life in Egypt returns to a more positive state. Moreover, there will undoubtedly be enchanting moments to cherish once more in those same stadiums.

a brief history of Egyptian football

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: The 1882 occupation of Egypt by the British saw the introduction of the game prescribed by the English Football Association in 1863, and almost immediately, football became the national sport and gripped the Egyptian psyche.
Keywords: 1882, Egypt, English Football Association in 1863, football
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, lines 3-5
Explanation: When the British occupied Egypt in 1882, they brought with them the game of football, which had been established by the English Football Association in 1863. Football quickly took hold of the Egyptian people and became the country's beloved national sport, deeply ingraining itself in the collective consciousness.

a description of the manipulation of football for political ends

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: In more recent times, Hosni Mubarak, president until 2011, was accused of using football as a way to divert the masses from the parlous state of the nation or coerce them into outbursts against teams from other African nations, like Algeria.
Keywords: Hosni Mubarak, 2011, masses, Algeria
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, lines 1-3
Explanation: During the more recent years, former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who served until 2011, faced accusations of exploiting football. It was used as a tool to distract the public from the country's dire conditions. Moreover, to manipulate them into engaging in violent confrontations with teams from other African nations, such as Algeria.

hypotheses on the allure of football for spectators

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Injustice, corruption, and tyranny have borne down upon the average Egyptian, who, for 90 minutes once or twice a week, forgets his woes in a football match.
Keywords: Injustice, corruption, tyranny
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, lines 5-8
Explanation: The average Egyptian has been burdened with injustice, corruption, and tyranny. But during a 90-minute football match, once or twice a week, they can momentarily forget their troubles and find solace.

examples of the global reach of football

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: It is estimated that over a billion people watched the 2014 World Cup – the biggest TV event in human history – and that football is a trillion-dollar industry.\
The fact that a handful of countries dominate the World Cup does not lessen interest in the competition or the sport by people in the remotest of regions.
Keywords: billion, 2014, human history, World Cup
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, lines 1-4
Explanation: The 2014 World Cup, considered the largest television event in human history, was watched by over a billion people. And football as an industry is valued at over a trillion dollars. Despite the fact that only a few countries tend to dominate the World Cup. This does not diminish the widespread fascination and passion for the competition and the sport as a whole, even in the most remote regions.

Questions 20-24

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 2?

In boxes 20-24 on your answer sheet, write:

YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Egyptian football players are represented in South American teams.

Answer: Not given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information provided in the passage given above.

FIFA estimates that Egypt’s football economy is worth $2 billion a year.

Answer: Not given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information provided in the passage given above.

European football stars have great importance in rural Africa.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: It seems the beautiful game in Egypt may need a radical facelift. Egypt’s poor showing in the 2014 World Cup – it failed to qualify whereas its rival Algeria did – meant that more Egyptians have started following European teams
Keywords: Egypt, facelift, European
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, lines 1-3
Explanation: It appears that the beloved game of football in Egypt may require a significant overhaul. Egypt's lackluster performance in the 2014 World Cup, in which they failed to qualify while their rival Algeria did. This led to an increase in the number of Egyptians following European teams instead.

While their own lives may be chaotic, some Egyptians like the rule-bound nature of a football game.

The Mubarak family involvement with football was largely sporting.

Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: In more recent times, Hosni Mubarak, president until 2011, was accused of using football as a way to divert the masses from the parlous state of the nation or coerce them into outbursts against teams from other African nations, like Algeria.
Keywords: Hosni Mubarak, 2011, masses, Algeria
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, lines 1-3
Explanation: During recent times, Hosni Mubarak, who served as president until 2011, faced allegations of exploiting football. It is used as a means of diverting the public's attention from the country's precarious state. Further, to incite them to engage in aggressive behavior towards teams from other African nations, such as Algeria.

Questions 23-26

Choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 25-26 on your answer sheet.

According to the writer, what has caused the violence at Egyptian football matches?

Alcohol consumed by fans
Police assaulting fans
The very poor standard of play
A number of complex issues

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: The 1882 occupation of Egypt by the British saw the introduction of the game prescribed by the English Football Association in 1863, and almost immediately, football became the national sport and
gripped the Egyptian psyche.
Keywords: 1882, Egypt, English Football Association in 1863, football
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, lines 3-5
Explanation: Following the British occupation of Egypt in 1882, the game of football, as prescribed by the English Football Association in 1863. It was introduced, and it quickly took hold of the Egyptian people, becoming the nation's favorite sport and capturing the country's imagination.

What does the writer think will happen to Egyptian football teams?

They should qualify for the World Cup.
They will thrill their fans again.
They may continue to suﬀer losses.
They should limit their political affiliations.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: The 1882 occupation of Egypt by the British saw the introduction of the game prescribed by the English Football Association in 1863, and almost immediately, football became the national sport and
gripped the Egyptian psyche.
Keywords: 1882, Egypt, English Football Association in 1863, football
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, lines 3-5
Explanation: Following the British occupation of Egypt in 1882, the game of football, as prescribed by the English Football Association in 1863. It was introduced, and it quickly took hold of the Egyptian people, becoming the nation's favorite sport and capturing the country's imagination.